Abraham in Canaan
117
Abraham that thing which I do?” said the Lord. “The cry of Sodom
and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will
go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according
to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” God
knew well the measure of Sodom’s guilt; but He expressed Himself
after the manner of men, that the justice of His dealings might be
understood. Before bringing judgment upon the transgressors He
would go Himself, to institute an examination of their course; if they
had not passed the limits of divine mercy, He would still grant them
space for repentance.
Two of the heavenly messengers departed, leaving Abraham alone
with Him whom he now knew to be the Son of God. And the man of
faith pleaded for the inhabitants of Sodom. Once he had saved them
by his sword, now he endeavored to save them by prayer. Lot and
his household were still dwellers there; and the unselfish love that
prompted Abraham to their rescue from the Elamites, now sought to
save them, if it were God’s will, from the storm of divine judgment.
With deep reverence and humility he urged his plea: “I have taken
upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes.” There
was no self-confidence, no boasting of his own righteousness. He did
not claim favor on the ground of his obedience, or of the sacrifices
he had made in doing God’s will. Himself a sinner, he pleaded in the
sinner’s behalf. Such a spirit all who approach God should possess.
Yet Abraham manifested the confidence of a child pleading with a
loved father. He came close to the heavenly Messenger, and fervently
urged his petition. Though Lot had become a dweller in Sodom, he
did not partake in the iniquity of its inhabitants. Abraham thought that
in that populous city there must be other worshipers of the true God.
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And in view of this he pleaded, “That be far from Thee, to do after
this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: ... that be far from
Thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Abraham asked
not once merely, but many times. Waxing bolder as his requests were
granted, he continued until he gained the assurance that if even ten
righteous persons could be found in it, the city would be spared.
Love for perishing souls inspired Abraham’s prayer. While he
loathed the sins of that corrupt city, he desired that the sinners might
be saved. His deep interest for Sodom shows the anxiety that we
should feel for the impenitent. We should cherish hatred of sin, but